"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" beat "Thor: The Dark World" in box office tickets earning $16.1 million domestically in its debut this past weekend. I wonder how Chris Hemsworth feels being crushed by his younger brother Liam? "I've been defeated by you little brother, but I swear upon my life it will not happen again" (Thor voice). 

"Catching Fire" grossed an impressive $307.7 million worldwide, topping their own title earnings of last year's 2012 premier of "The Hunger Games" franchise, which brought in $152.5 million. The film has established itself as a blockbuster saga, which promises more intensively thrilling films to come. The film also came in second to "Iron Man 3" in biggest debuts of 2013; the superhero sequel earned $174.1 million, the fourth-biggest domestic film opening in history ("Victory, I still win!" says Thor, a fellow Avenger). Catching Fire also earned $144.6 million in foreign sales and $12.6 million in just domestic IMAX screenings, according to distributor Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. The sequel "also attracted a broader audience than the original 'Hunger Games'...with age groups over and under age 25 being half of the ticket buyers and 12 percent more male than the first film" Lions Gate said. This is great news for Lions Gate which spent about $130 million to make "Catching Fire", plus $55 million on marketing campaigns including Facebook, ads during NFL football games and fashion and makeup lines.

The "Hunger Games" franchise is based on the best-selling novels by author Suzanne Collins. Her third book in the trilogy will be split into two installments as a film: "Mockingjay Part 1" and Mockingjay Part 2". Good news for fans, the films are to be released in November 2014 and November 2015, Jennifer Lawrence is a busy girl we see. The cast is predicted to bring in $1 billion globally for the next film, putting just a bit of pressure on actors; Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks and many more of the great stars that brought this story to life.  I'm sure they will continue to do an excellent job, giving Liam another chance to send Chris another "Muahahaha" text message. 

Have you watched "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" yet? What did you like about the film?